Canadian Medical Association

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), with more than 70,000 members, is the largest association of doctors in Canada and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation. The CMA is a Canadian civilian organization with the Royal Patronage of Queen Elizabeth II.

The CMA publishes the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and through accreditation of educational programs works to ensure national standards in health care. The CMA also publishes a magazine called Canadian Health.

The CMA was also the driving force behind the creation of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan in 1957. Today, its financial arm, MD Management, administers more than $21 billion for CMA members and their families. It is the only professional association in the world to have enjoyed such success. The CMA also owns and operates a profit-making business called Practice Solutions, created in 2005 and claiming to offer end-to-end technology and practice management services to its members.

It claims to represent the interests of patients nationally and actively lobbies the Canadian government on public health issues.

In the past, the CMA strongly supported the current single payer health care system. But, this recently changed with the CMA's support of private health insurance, following the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Chaoulli and Quebec.